December Message from President Sandy Evans

On behalf of all of your Board, I want to wish you all the very best of the winter season.  I  hope that  you  are all able to embrace and enjoy this amazing time.   With the cold and longer nights we, like most of our natural world, create our own resilience by gathering together, being kind, working together and adapting to the conditions outside our doors.  Winter is very much a time to take time - to reflect, to prepare before going out, to create cozy spaces to return to, to rest (for some even hibernate), to rejuvenate, and to enjoy each others’ stories and wisdoms.  

One of my favourite  sayings in JFW (likely from Mors Kohanski) is that “there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices”.  With colder weather and unpredictable conditions, including covid, we need to be especially vigilant that we are providing activities for our wardens that are safe and respectful (of nature and each other).    We  don’t need to  hibernate, but we do need to make good preparation and choices when we head out and when we  gather.  What a great thing to teach our children. 

For the Board, the scurry of Fall work is nearly complete.  We are working through the last of the registrations and are  just waiting for results on a few vulnerable sector checks.  We very much appreciate the diligence of those making sure all of our adult members, as volunteers who connect with wardens, are all vetted.  Thank you for your patience and good communication  with this task.  It has certainly been a different year with many delays beyond our control, and a lot of learning for those of us in new roles.  

We have some new directors including a recent graduate, and a new Secretary!  I would like to thank you all for stepping forward to represent the members in your regions to guide JFW into the year ahead.  And a special thank you and welcome to Debra Wathen, our new secretary, who is stepping into a significant role within the first few years with us.  This is possible with the support of two of our past secretaries generously sharing their experience.  The depth of experience in our membership is really strong.  At all levels from activity and group leaders, club exec, regional councils to the board, we need to foster new leaders, share our stories and experience so that we can continue the incredible knowledge we have built over the past 90 plus years.   

Happy Holidays and Winter celebrations to you all!

Sandy

AJFWA President

Winter A/C Outreach 2022

 

Visit the AJFWA Store to register starting December 4, 2021

Meeting in a Box Event

 

Well, it appears November has arrived and winter is right behind it.  We are getting closer to our  Meeting in a Box event on November 20th in Red Deer.  Because our Fall Workshop wasn't able to happen, we wanted to host a workshop to build the skills and provide some lesson material that parents and leaders can take back to their clubs.

We currently have 5 presenters that will share their meeting kits and tips on how they present them.  We would love to have more people showcase examples of meetings they have created.

There are over 15 kits so far, including:

fire lighting

fire starters

knife sharpening

animal tracks & scat

tree "cookie" aging

tree identification

predator - prey game

bronze badge knowledge

This event will only be successful if we have people sign up and take advantage of the many years of knowledge and experience that have been put into these Meeting in a Box packages.

There will be a free tree cookie kit for the first 15 people registered.

When:      Saturday November 20th

Where:     Red Deer

Time:       10am till 3pm

You can bring your lunch and mingle or there are fast food places close by.  

Standard COVID rules and regulations will apply as per the meeting venue.

Please RSVP to cody.howitt@ajfwa.ca if you want to present or attend this incredible event.

Map & directions along with the COVID rules and regulations can be forwarded once registered.

Cody Howitt
Chief Warden of Alberta

2021 Christmas Tree Lot

 

2021 JUNIOR FOREST WARDENS

CHRISTMAS TREE CUTTING LOT 

Saturdays and Sundays only from November 27 - December 19, 2021

Christmas Tree Cutting Map.pdf

With Christmas just around the corner, many families are looking forward to a traditional outing into the forest to find and cut their own very special Christmas Pine Tree.

The Christmas Tree Lot is a seasonal fundraiser for Junior Forest Wardens, an outdoor program for youth and their families.. On November 26, 2020, the Government of Alberta removed the $5 permit fee. With the removal of the permit fee and because we cannot operate our traditional concession fundraiser during COVD-19, any donations to our program will be graciously accepted.

The gate to the parking lot will be open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays as noted above, road and weather conditions permitting. Tree cutting permits will be available from our volunteer in our permit shack. 

Each permit entitles you to one tree - Lodgepole Pine only. Keep this Tree Cutting Permit with you while transporting your tree, as it is required to avoid potential fines. The permit is only good for Lodgepole Pine trees (with long 2” needles) within the boundaries of this particular tree lot area.

Directions:  From Calgary’s Canada Olympic Park, travel west on the Trans Canada (Hwy 1) for approximately 35 km.  Take the Hwy 68 exit (Sibbald Creek Trail) and head south for approximately 22 km to the Powderface Trail turnoff.  Turn left and head south on Powderface Trail for 2 km and you’ll reach the Christmas Tree Cutting Lot.  Watch for the JFW signs along the route! 

COVID-19 Restrictions: Please note that this year there will also be no food concession, and campfires are prohibited. There will be no rentals of saws or axes available.  

So, please bring your own preferred food and drink, and enjoy the outdoors with your family.  Hopefully, we’re back to normal operations next year.  We’d love to meet you all and sit by the fire with hot chocolate again!

Off Hours Visits:  If you can’t make it out on the above dates or times, or if the lot is not manned due to weather and/or road conditions, you are welcome to visit and cut a Lodgepole Pine tree at any other time. Please keep in mind that the lot is only staffed on weekends, and the gate may not be open. If you plan to arrive after 4:00 pm, you'll have to park outside of the gate as the gate will be closed & locked at 4:00 pm.

*Please note that, at our location, we cannot accept permits purchased in advance from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. They are for a different area and cover different species. Permits may be available for other areas of Alberta.  Contact your local Alberta Agriculture and Forestry office for more information.

More Information

If you have a question regarding the Christmas Tree Lot, more information is available at these links;   FAQs

If you still have a question, send an e-mail to the 2021 President  of the Calgary District  Tim Watts or phone at:  403-660-7619

Check the local forecast before you head out!     The Weather Network - Kananaskis

AJFWA President's Message - November 2021

Happy Fall to All!!

I hope that you are all enjoying the amazing display nature has been putting on this year.  From fall colours to aurora borealis it has been spectacular!   As clubs start ramping up their programming I want to put out a reminder to be safe.   We still need to be vigilant with our Covid precautions and careful to monitor how our actions impact the safety of those around us.  To that end, the Board has sent out a detailed statement regarding Covid precautions.  Please read and follow.  It is encouraging to see the diligence of clubs and regions to plan ways to keep our members and our communities safe and still continue to get outside and to provide great programming.  Check out the Covid resource file in our members section on the website.   

We have had a flurry of new clubs and memberships this fall.  AJ has been very busy this month getting new members registered, and new and existing clubs chartered.  Thank you to all that got the paperwork in by the deadlines.  Chartering is a lot of work, but vital for us as an organization.  Without this process, we would not have insurance to do the amazing things we do with our wardens.  We would also not have a good way to reach you, or know how clubs are doing.  Chartering information gives us our mail lists, a database for event registration, a vetted volunteer base, club supports, tree mail, and a good sense of our financial status to be able to plan ahead.   Thank you to all the club registrars, our membership director, Lisa Patrick, our regional assistants, our IT committee (ComIt), member services and our vice president Vicky Hill for all of their work.   

We have many welcomes to make.  First off a welcome back to the AJ executive;   Brett Schonekess will be joining the Executive committee in the role of interim Treasurer.  He comes with a great deal of board and treasurer experience.   Many of you will know him from the Calgary District , No Shenanigans and Outreach programs.   Brett has been dedicated to JFW at club, region and provincial levels for many years, is well versed in the financials at all levels and is also a great source of mountaineering knowledge.  Welcome also to our newest AJ Board directors; Angela Townsend, and Debra Wathen.  

As the work of club startup settles down, I am hoping to encourage a few more members to help on the AJ level with one of our committees or on the board in one of our vacant regional rep positions.  Have a look at the Board and Committee web pages and contact me if you are able to help out.  

Enjoy the changing of the seasons, and a new year of great learning and adventures with our families.  

“See” you again when the snow flies,

Sandy

2021 Peter Mehl Scholarship Winners

 

September Message from President Sandy Evans

As we roll into a new programming year there is a lot happening behind the scenes to support clubs, parents and leaders in our amazing program.  Our strength and your connection to our JFW community is best  built by working on things together.  

So what has the AJ Board been up to?  

The Board (Regional representatives and elected executive) is a group of dedicated members who have taken on the exciting task of steering our JFW canoe.   Governing an organization is about encouraging the growth of people and community with an eye on potential storms and risks.  There are boundaries that limit our actions  - legal and financial obligations and our own bylaws that we agree to as a whole membership.  There are policies and procedures that we create to document and guide our day to day actions.  And over all of this are our values and mission that create the culture of our JFW community.  

We have a number of committees that all members can grab a paddle to help out with these endeavours.  

The CommT keeps our communication flowing across the  province, and our technological structure healthy.  They are like invisible gnomes and fairies that tweak and fix things so the garden of our virtual network is useful and helpful.  (As a non techie, I am in awe and always grateful when I can just click a button). 

The Membership and REC committees have been refining and testing the registration and chartering processes.  We have some great documents and training to help registrars and all members with this process.  

JPCC has organized a wonderful event commemorating some of those who have made huge contributions to our organization and built our history.  

We have a lot to offer the youth, families and the environment in our broader communities. The Canada committee is working hard to help promote JFW and get our “secret” out.  Governance is working hard to build and keep current the documentation of our policies and procedures and Fund Development is working to defer some of the costs of our programming with grant applications and searches for  sponsorship.  These are just a few of the committee activities over the past few months.  I encourage all members to check out the committee page on  our website and see if there is something that grabs your interest.    

The Directors on the board often wear many hats.  Their job on the Board involves looking forward, looking back, providing diverse perspectives from across the province and working to steer us in a good direction.   In the next few weeks the regional boards will be looking for representatives for the AJ board, and Committee chairs will be looking for new members.   This is OUR organization.  See what you can do!!  We all have ways to contribute.  Grab  a paddle, even if it is a small one, or you can only take a few strokes at a  time.  A few strokes from everyone helps us all move forward.

Sandy Evans

AJFWA President